Paper-folding machine



Aug. 4, 1925.

Filed July 23, 1921 10 Sheets-Sheet 1' lNVENTQk PETER D- RAUb$T P. D. PAULS PAPER FOLDING MACHINE Fi e y 23. 1921 10 Sheets-Sheet 2 Aug. 4, 1925. 1,548,626

I; P. D. PAuLs PAPER FW'D k-Li MACHINE Filed an 1921 10 Sheets-Shet 5 Aug. 4, 1925.

P. D. PAULS PAPER FOLDING MACK-KIN Aug. 4, 1925. 1,548,626

' .P. D. PAULS PAPER FOLDING MACHI NE Filed July 25, 1921 10 Sheets-Sheet 5 vel gi im.

. P. D. 'PAULS PAPER FOLDING MACHINE l0 Sheets-Sheet .6

Filed July 25, 1921 Aug. 4, 1925. 1,548,626

P. D. PAULS PAPER FOLDING MAcHiNE Fil y 25, 1921 10 Sheets-Sh'eed 7 IQQENTQLQ: PETER D. Plums w IP-L Arm's.

Aug.4,l925.

P. D. PA'uLs PAPER FOLDING MACHINE Filed July 23. 1921 f wv s4 10 Sheets-Sheet 8 \NVENTQR PETERIDfPA LS.

Aug. 4, 1925. 1,548,626

P. D. PAULS I PAPER FOLDING MACHINE Filed July 23, 1921 10 Sheets-Sheet 9 [NVENTORZ Rafa: D. PALM-5.

"CTY'S Aug. 4, 1925.

F D. FAULS PAPER FOLDING MACHINE Fi y 2-3, 1.921 10 Sheets-Sheet 1O iNVENTQR FETER :D'PAQLE l. M vwrlfl ATTY'S Patented Aug. 4, 1925.

UNITED STATES P E T numcnqr i'n'rm I). new, or cmcaeo, rumors.

pagans-Oman monnm' Application tiled July 28, 1921. Serial No, 6.9M

I "Illinois, have invented certain new and use-v ful Improvements in Paper-Folding Machines, 'of whichthe following is a specificatibnfi' The invention relates to paper folding machines and more particularly to a machine for folding, cutting and stacking paper napkins and similar articles made from sheet paper. Y I

Heretofore such' articles made from paper 16 have been commonly. cut into appro riate sized sheets and marketed without f ding. The subsequent hand folding involved considerable labor and expense,

The primary ob'ect f this invention is to provide a mac line which will expeditiously and economically fold and cut napkins and the like from. a continuous roll of material. F a .Another ob'ect is to provide a machine P -v'vith adjust-able means for varying the position of the folds and the lengthsof cut to produce napkins of varied size and ot er i rkticles such as table covers, towels and the I Another'object is to construct the rnachine in such a manner that the'pa per. '.niaterial may be folded' both lonfgitudinallyja'nd trans verselj', cut to desired engths andd'eposited in-a suitable recepta le'with a continuous forward movement 0 the niaterialrf A further object is to provide means for stacking and counting the finished articles "preparatory to their being packed in suitablecontainers for shipment. 1

,Q.ther"iobjects and advantages include noyeldneanfOr transversely olding and severingthe partiallyfcut units; for accomplishing alm'ultiple of transverse folds; for

rqllsgggorlprovidin 'positive uniadf'ustably; tensioningand "positioning the feign I raftjo the material t irough the machi n; and control of the counting devicc' caiev of rupture of the material in process. ith the fabove objects in view, and with others hereinafter-apparent, the invention ment" thereof and w 'ich areillustrated-iu comprises the novel matures otconstruction and arrangen ent set} {out in the following detailed description gt a preferred embodi- I the accompany I drawings.

Referring to e'dh'awings, Fi re 1 a side elevation-of the 'cdrnplete mac 'ne. Fig. 2 is a plan viewbffthe machine, and F i, ';s '..3 and 4am elevationsofits respectivej en s1 Fig.- 5 is a fragmentary'side View showing the'feed and cutting rolls, andthe trans" verse" foldin' mechanisnLQ- Fig. 6 is a sec-1 tio'nal elevation taken oaths" line of Fig. 5. Figs. 7 and .8 are plaujandside views res ctively of the 'de shoe. and as counter'r'e easing -dev1ce. Figs} and 10 are 1 plan and side views res actively. of the stack mg and countingv mec 'anism, and. Fig} 11 illustrates a detail of the latter; Figs. 12 and 13 are plan and end viewsrespcctively ro of a pair of the adjustable folding rolls., Figs. -14 and 15 i1lus'trate the edit: stable mounting of the folding tables. Figv 16 is a cross section of 'theclutch mechanism mounted on the main drive shaft. F i t .17 is a side elevation of the deliver end 0 themachine illustratinga modified orm adapted tom'ak'e a plurality of transverse folds. Fig. 18 'is a diagrammaticre resentation of. the oper'ationsof the'mac hid in producing napkins. so Figs; 19 to 22'illustrate the successive folds mad in ana kin."

j Th gener' organization o'f the machine, as illustrated diagrammatically in Fig. 18, includes three fol ing units, indicated at A', B and C, through which the material? is drawnxfrornpthe continuous roll D. .The units A, B and 0 fold the paper longitudi- -nally as illustrated in Figs. 19, 20 and 21."

respectively, the stock passin from the unit 7 C to the feed-and'cuttin r0 ls E in a continuous band folded as in ig. 21. The rolls E are arranged to partially cut'the passing. band of materiah'into proper, lengths. The 1 band then passes before the'transverse fold- ,95 in? unit F comprising a air (if-continuous be ts operatin 'at sorne'w at greater speed than the trave ofthe band'of material and between which thesections of-the' band are" .folded by the periodic operation of a recip} we 'I dredth, or other recurring numbered napkin;

above the position of the others so that the napkins may be counted in lots of like amount. The finished napkin as stacked ready for packin is shown in Fig. 22.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, the operating mechanism is supported upon a pair of spaced skeleton frame members 1 and 2. A pair of laterally ofi'set legs 3 and 4 carry in upwardly open bear' a shaft 5 upon which is revolubly moun the continuous roll of paper D. The sheet paper S passing from the roll D is carried over a roller 6 journalled in bearings 7 mounted on a pair of cross rails 8 of thq's ffime. The roller 6 guides the paper into the first of the folding units A, illustrated in detail in Figs. 14 and 15. The folding unit comprises a triangular folding table 9 positioned with its base closely proximate to the periphery of the roller 6, and with its apex immediately above and between a pair of folding rolls 10 and 11.

The inclination of the table relative to the axes of the rolls, and the angular relation between its conver ing sides smoothly accomplish the longitu inal foldin of the paper as it passes over the table from the roller 6 and through the rolls. 10 and 11. The paper is thus once folded upon a line determined by the position of apex of the table. In order to accurately adjust the inclination of the table, and to change the position of its apex for variation of the line of the told. I have provided an adjustable mounting for the table and foldingrolls 10 and 11.

The folding unit as awhole is supported upon a bed plate 12 (Fig. 1-5 secured-to the frame members 1 and 2. 1e ends of the bed plate 12 formfparallel ways 13 upon which is slidably mounted a carriage14, as illustrated also in Figs. 12 and 13. The ways 13 are arranged parallel to the axis of the roller 6. An elbow support 15 fixed at one end of the carriage 14 is provided with a flanged end portion 16 inclined similarly to the folding table 9. A series of bolts 17 protruding from the back of the folding table are received through aperturesin the flanges of the portion 16 and are provided with adjusting nuts 18 by means of which the relative inclination of the' table 9 may be accurately adjusted.

The carriage and folding table may be shifted on the ways 13 by means of a screw 19 rotatably secured on one side of the carriage and having threaded engagement fwith mac-km on the bed plate 12. (See Figs. 12, 13 and 14.) A lock 'nut 21 secures the screw against further rotation when the carriage is adjusted. Set screws 22 are also provided to secure the carriage in fixed position upon the ways.

I The folding rollers 10 and 11 are mounted on the carriage 14 with their axes perpendicular to a vertical plane'through the axis of the roller 6. The rolls are arranged for varying the tension between them so that the pressure necesary to properly fold the paper may be adjusted to varyingthiclmem and quality of paper. The ends of the rolls are journalled in antifriction bearings 23 (Figs. 12 and 13) which are carried at each end by a pair of sliding blocks 24 and 25 mounted on ways 26 formed transversely of the upper surface of the carriage. A pair of upright posts 27 and 28support a crom bar 29 at each end of the rolls, the cross bar also providing a slide way 30 for the up pfir.

ends of the respective bearing blocks. sliding movement of the bearing blocks is controlled by pairs of tension springs 31 hearing laterally upon each of the bear' blocks 25 supportingthe roller 11,v an

which are tensioned b means of a mega extending .longitudin' y of them receiving the other ends of the springs 31 in suitable recesses. The'bearing-blocks' 24 supporting the roll 10 are in abutment with the fixed posts 27. Movement of the plate.

in any adjustedposition by means of a lock nut 35. Both the carriage 14 and the bed plate 12 are formed with apertures beneath the rolls l0 and 11 through which the paper material may pass after being folded by the.

rolls: It will here be obvious that a pair of,

non rotative polished plates may be substi-.

tuted for the rollers 10 and 11, the lates being fixed at their ends in the-sliding locks 24 and' 25.

11 mm the idler folding bolls 10 and 11 the paper S pa$es around the guide roller 36 and thence around the guide roller37 from which latter it passes through the folding unit B which is similar in all respects to the unit A except that'itis of redu adapted to receive the once folded contiftil' ous sheet of pa )er S. The folding tabla38 and folding rolls 39 are mounted'on an adjustable sliding carriage carried by a bed plate secured to the frame members 1 and 2, all of construction similar to that 'ust described for the him; A and monnf' in inverted position To receive the upwardly moving continuous sheet of.material.

From the folding rolls 39 of the unit B the twice folded stock passes upwardly over foldin unit- C comprising the folding table 41 an folding rolls 42 which are similarly the reciess.

constructedand mounted as are the correspondin elements in the units A and B, except t at they are again smaller and positionedlto receive the reduced width of the stock passing from the unit 0.

The thrice folded band of paper then passes over the roller 43 mounted in suitable bearings on the cross members of the upper portion of the frame, and from there passes into the cutting mechanism E. The latter is illustrated in enlarged detail in Figs. 5 and 6 and comprises a pair of rolls 44 and 45. The roll 44 has its shaft 46 journalled in fixed bearings 47 mounted on the upper surfaces of the frame members 1 and 2. The roll 44 carries at diametrically opposite points in its periphery a pair of ad ustable cutting knives 48 extending longitudinally of the surface of the roll. The. knives 48 are positioned in longitudinal recesses in the roll 44, and are adapted to be' moved outwardly from the recesses so that their cutting edges may be adjusted in the extent to which they protrude from The outward positioning of the knivesris effected by set screws 49 carried by the recess wall and forming a rest for the inner edges the knives. Each knife is secured in position against the radial side wall of its recess by means of a filler block 50 cooperating with 'a wedge piece 51, the filler block being secured; to the roll by bolts 52. v

The roll 45 is of like diameter with the cutting roll 44 and is akin provided with longitudinal recesses diametrically positioned in the periphery oflthe roll. Longitudinal strips 53of resilint material suitably adapted to form aibackingfor the cutting edges of the knives 48 carried by the cutting roll, are centrally positioned in the recesses and secured therein by means of adjoining wedge-shaped. strips 54 held in position by means of bolls 55. .The outer surfaces of the strips 53 and the retaining members 54 conform to the cylindrical pe-' riphery of the roll 45. The'roll 45 has its shaft 56 journalled at each end in swingihg bearing arms 57 pivoted respectively upon a pair of eccentrics 58 rigidly mounted .on a rotatabl adjustable cross bar 111 jourualed in t e frame members 1 and 2. The axes of the bearings of the roll 45 and of the pivotal supports of the bearing arms 57 are parallel with the axis of the cutting roll 44.

The cutting roll 44 and its backing roll 45 may be varied in diameter by the substitution of other rolls so that any length of. out they be made in the aper stock passing between them. The swinging bearmg arms 57 may be shifted longitudinally to accommodate the variable sizes of rolls and retain their line of contact in the same vertical plane, by adjusting the position of the eccentrics 58, thus compensating for the varying distances between the axial centers of the rolls of different sizes. The bearings 47 for the cutting roll shaft also may be shifted horizontally upon their supports.

Proper tension between the cutting roll and the backing roll is maintained by means of a pair of compression springs 56 car-- ried on the outer portions of a-pair of rods 56 pivoted respectively as at 56 to the frame members 1 and 2 and passing through the flattened ends 56 .of;the shaft 56. Each of the springs 56 is compressed between the washer 56 adjustably secured to the. outerend of the rod 56", andthe flattened end 56 of the shaft. The action of the springs tends to resiliently force the backing. roll such pressure as may be-desired'i To maintain the cutting knives and backing strips in registering relation I have provided positive gearing connection between the two rolls comprising a pair of 45 into contact with the cutting roll 44 with 'pinions 59 and 60 mounted on the respective roll shafts in fixed relation to the rolls, and mtermeshing therewith a pair of gears 61 and 62 interengaging with eachother,

The latter gears are rotatable upon a pair of stub journals 63 carried respectively by an upward, extension 640f one of the bear-' ing arms 57, and an arm 64 mounted on the cutting roll shaft 46. A connecting plate 64 'secures the stub journals in spaced relation. The arrangement of the arms 64 and 64 compensates for the changes in ,dis-

tance between the axial'centers of the rolls when different sizes of rolls are employed;

To assure against slippage of the cutting roll in relation to the paper stock passing. thereovei' and thus making irregular the lengths cut by the knives, I have pro: vided a pair of idler rolls 65 and 66 retatable upon a pair ofshafts secured at each end in a pair of supports 67. The idler rolls are supported in position above the j cutting roll, and accommodated to the vary ing diameters of the interchangeable rolls,;

by means of the arm 67*- having pivotal connection at its upper end .with-th'eishaft at its lower end on an eccentric 67 rotatabl 67" carrying the idler roll 66, and pivotedmounted on the stationary backing r lshaft 56. The position of the eccentric rela-f an eye bolt 70 having its threaded portion engaged through :1 lug 71 positioned on the support 67, and secured by means of a pair of lock' nuts.

The weight of the idlerrolls and the endless belt resting upon the surface of the paper stock S passing between the belt and the cutting roll causes sufficient friction to prevcnt slippage between the cutting roll and the paper. and mainly provides for the propulsion of the paper stock through the machine. W'hen necessary to feed the paper through the rolls by hand as when starting operations, the idler rolls and their supports may be swung upwardly about the shaft 56 to uncover the cutting roll andv permit the hand insertion of the paper stock.

The knives 48 are adapted by the Y Y Y position of their cutting edges to transverse y sever into similar separate sections'the three times folded paper stock over the roll. In my preferred. arrangementa narrow central connecting portion or marginal portions at each side are left unsevered, the latter'be- .ing left toretain the severed sections in end to end relation as they pass between and away from the rolls, for purposes hereinafter disclosed.

The folding units A, B and C and the cutting mechanism E accomplish the three longitudinal folds illustrated in Figf'Zl and partially sever the sections into individual napkins, or other articles being reduced, preparato to the transverse foliling operation an the stacking and counting of the 4 separate units.

' main pro speed and direction in the rotation of the dan er of ru tu g P if As an aid in llin the aver stock from the roll D ilir dugh the sgvdral units described I have provided belt connections between the cutting roll 44'. which is the lling means, and the guide rollers 36. 37 an 43, each of these carrying grooved pulleys of suitable diameter interconnected by belts 72, 73 and 74, the pulleys and belts being arra ed to maintain the proper several guide rolls to carry the paper stock smoothly forward in taut condition without The cutting roll 44 is driven by means a sprocket chain 75 operating upon the sprocket 76 carried by the cutting roll shaft and driven from the sprocket 77 carried jb v' the main driving shaft 78 mounted in the lower portion of the frame members 1 and 2.

As a suitable source of.

wet for the op I eration of the machine I lave employed in the present instance an-electric motor 79 mounted on a suitable standard 80 carried the frame members 1 and 2. For suitable speed reductions and variations I emloya step pulley 81-on the motor shaft ,lted to a large ste pulley 82 mounted on the main drive shaft. 1

For the purpose of controlling the operathe frame member 2, carries a pair of pins 89 engaging the annular channel 90 in the driving member 84. The latter is normally forced inwardly u n the friction disk assembly for operative rotation of the cone pulley 82 by means of a coiled spring 91 having its abutment against the fixed bushing 92 secured on the main driving shaft. wriition of the hand lever servesto throw the friction clutch in and out of engagement and thus conveniently provides for the ual acceleration of the operation rolls when starting the machine, a provision 'nry to avoid tearing the paper stock as would occur with a sudden starting of rolls. 1 1

After the pa r has over the cutting roll and wli en partially severed as previously'described into unit sections, the ma.- terial passes downwardlv into is flat conduit 93 (see Fi entry of t as paper into the conduit I have provided for exhausting the air from the 5 and 6). To assure the certain conduitt at its opposite end by means of a rotary blower 94 (Fig. l) of well known construction and having its rotor mounted on the motor shaft, the conduit 93 extending downwardly and horizontally to the intake of the rotary blower. The air current may be controlled by means of a valve 94* placed in the conduit adjacent to the blower intake.

- The conduit 93 leads the partially severed stock received at its open up r end into position for operation thereon y the transverse folding mechanism F- The latter com= prises a pair of endless belts which ada ted to receive the sections of the paper uit from a lateral orifice 95 in the con 93, the pa r sections being thrust through the orifice y means of a reciprocating blade -96'operating through a housing 97 carried,

by the side wall of the conduit opposite to;

the orifice 95.

, The blade 96 is operated by means of a. crank 98-rigidl mounted upon a rocker shaft 99 journa ed upon the upper portion 1 of the frame members 1 and 2. The extremity of thecrank 98 forms a yoke 100 pivotally V supportin between its arms a bushing 101 in which is adiustably threaded one end of an operating link 102 carrying the blade holder 103. Another am 104 rigidly mount- 'ed'on the iockersha-ft 99 carries a pivoted roller 105 at' its end which engages th'eperipheryfof e. cam- 106"rigidly mounted on the shaft 4.6 carrying the cutting ro'lL The L'cOntour'of ,the 'cam member 106 is so an ranged'vviitlfrelation, to the, osition oi the khives48 in the cutting roll t rat the fold ng blade 96 will bethrust .through its hous ng at. the proper moment to engage each airtia'lly severed section of the 'p'ape r stoc at its' center and force the latter through the aperture 95 for engagement -by 'the transverse fo1ding mechanism. The operating stroke of theflmank 98 is efi'ected by means of a'tension s i'ingFlO'! secured at one end by a fixed attac ment to tlie'zfraxne member 2,

as byfthe pinf108, and attached at its other end to" an arm 109 rig: y'n'iounted on the rocker shaft '99, the 'cam membr106 permittingthe' inward stroke ofthe blade 99 at the 'fUponlbemg thrust throughfthe aperture' 95 theltra fisversely folded penter' portion of each; paper section -rece ved'between the 7 sic-h that the "two endless belts of the transverse folding neeha'nism F which are operatin at a sub- 7 stiiiitially g 'eater peripheral speed than that *of thepa'p'er stock passingthrou'gh the condu iti 93 from'the cuttingrollfa'nd by reason thereof, thepartiallyjsevered sect on torn -as'ear u wi see aa d as i i i-i'p l n r a f av ng i pp 4 dndlo'we r ends ectively mounted on the f =1Ebss"bars 111 an 11?. extending between the fraine members 1 and 2 .Mounted 'cen? v'olvmg drum 113 same b a shaft-.114,

, having its bearingjqurnalle finfa laterally' 'entending bearingf por tion 1151 of the so 7 'wardly and downwardly-"from the ru'm 113 are a pair ofjdler rollers 118 .and119 each yrctaiing n pivotsffixedjto the supporting plate. An endless belt 120 passes over the 'iwo idlcrurcllers 118 and 119, and over the d-1um.113.- Th tension-on the belt may be;''

: djustedby. ma'ns of a third idler roller 121 ,mvotcd one si'viuging arm 122 which latter" is mounted on a-fix'ed pivot "123 carried by the. supporting platello andso arranged that the swinging armmay be tensioned by spring means to force the roller in contact with the endless-belt, Aboveand'outyvardly of the drum 113-are mounted threeiother rolls 124; 125 and 126eachof .which isr'otatahly mounted on a swinging er n 2, wherein the coil between the pellets 1-18, E 81,1

two rollers 126, .beihglor be qdropp thrust rearwaruly into -,the L receptacle 'chute 182. The shoe is 0 members. H and timed topositiyelythrust inwardly the 128 and 129 respectively. carried on pivots fixed in the supporting late. A second endlessjbelt 130 is carrie by. the latter three idlers and passes over-the revolving drum 113 in contact with the first endless belt othbelts beingdriven by the drum. The iller rollers 124 and 126 are each arranged with springmeans forforcing themtopvard the fixedly. positioned idler rollers 118 and 119, so that'the twobelts are in l snug. contact between the pair of idler rolls 118 and 124 and thepair 119 and 126. The spring means emplgged is illustrated in Fig. sprin 131 has a fixed attachment at oneend on t e plate 110, and has. its other end attached to the arm 129.

" Thejdler roll 125 is similarly tensioned to eifect the desired tautness in the 'belt130r The section of'pa er thrust through the orifice is .e ngage byfthe tw dless bolts 35 and .passes 'ybetween the n H by along the.tl,&h$VeI'se fold.-

Upon "emerging'from between the belts at the ower dint of their contact the napkin section 18 ropped into a chute .132carried' at the front e'n of -areeeptacle. 133 ada ted. to receive and accumulate the com eted I folded napkins or other articles. ,Ifiwing' into the chute each napkin is over the druin and' downwa through a"- lateral opening in the chute by .me'ans ofa-shoe 134' (see Figs.'9 and 10),

which reeiprocates through an-o positely lateral opening in the front wall of the.

r a rated by a drive mg rod 135 having a sli in bearing in a support136' carried by the ame members 1 and 2. The operatingrod is actuated by; means 'of cam mechanism. carried .by ,tho main drive shaft and coin 'ri g'two cam members 137 and .138, fixadon' the diive shaft and respecti ely associated with the two rollers 139 and 140 ivoted-in a yoke 141 fixed on the end of t e opena'tin'g rod. The two arms of the yoke'havereglstering slots '142'through which passes, the lnain drive shaft 7 8 and which, OO ifill the movement of the operating xbdpolongitlidinal reciprocation with the r'evol'ucionof the cam The cam members arearranged shoe l3as each ig'olded napkin drops to'the bottom of the Ehute and withdraw the shoe to permit the entry of the succeeding napfkm. The shoe: may be providednwith a guide ms 143 having a shdable. beltring in "the 'support"136 t o revent rotative move- 'ment of the shoe an its'o rating rod.

I have further-"'provid a co n g a Vice f r indicating the'number ,of na kin-s stacked in the rece 'tacle133 by periodically raising a selective y "numbered oneoi the napkins a substantial distance above the "9 other napkins in the receptacle. This is accomplished by means of a vertically movable bot-tom 144 provided in the chute 132 which operates as a stop for the dropping napkin j 6 entering the chute. The position -of the bottom or plunger 144 is determined by means of an operating-bar 145 extendingabutment 151 on the bracket 148, bears against the under side of the bell crank, and tends to'force it and the plunger upwardly.

,A bolt 152, threaded into the spring abutment 151, extends through the spring and through an aperture in'the. bell crankQthe.

head of the bolt serving as a stop for the .upivard movement of the crank. The other arm of the bell crank 147 carries a yoke 153 which straddles the driving rod 135. A pin 154, fixed in the latter, is positioned to engage the arms of, the yoke with the inward stroke of therod and swing the bell crank against the spring 150 to lower the plunger in the chute.

The bar 145 .is, provided at its end with r a hooked portion 155 cooperating with a bent lever 156 having an interlocking latch 157 on one arm which engages the hook 155 5 and normally holds the upper surface of t he plunger in alinement-with the-bottom of the receptacle 133. The bent lever is pivoted upon a ort ion of the fixed bracket 148. The latch 15 a is urged into locking engage- 4 mom with the hooked end of the plunger bar by means of a spring 158 secured to the other arm 159 of the benttlever 156 and having fixed attachment upon the bracket 148. The outer end of the lever arm 159 is adapted to cooperate with a cam member 160 having a peripheral projection 161 which with each revolution of the cam member engages the end'of the arm 159 forcing it downwardly and releasing the plunger bar from the latch 1-57 to be thrust upwardly by the spring actuated bell crank lk-Wllkn.

in this position the shoe 134 forces the napkin then in the chute, and which is raisedl'fsubstantially fiabove the position of the pre jf ceding napkin, into the rece tacl e where its "upper end stands 1m g napkins. V

completion of the stroke of the shoe hind its driving rod brings into engagement \the cross pin 154 with the bell crank lever,

f the'rebj' operating the latter to return the plunger to its normal position in alinement with the bottom of the receptacle, and permitting the reengagement of the interlocking latch members and 157 until again ingrod 135. The pawl is a sired. It will be obvious that the number prominent y above the adreleased by another revolution of the cam member.

The operation of the cam member is controlled by means of a gear 162 mounted in fixed relation with the cam member upon the common stub shaft 163, carried. by the bracket 1-18. Intermeshing with the gear 162 is a )inioii 164 fixed upon a-"shaft 165 journalle in the support-ing bracketl48. A ratchet wheel 166 is also fixed upon the shaft. 165 and is actuated by means of a pawl 167 pivoted in a block 168 fixed upon the driv- I apted t9 engagethe teeth of the ratchet-- wheel and revolve' the latter with each forward movement of the driving rod. The rearward movement ofthe driving rod .'carries the pawl into position for reengagementover a varying number of teeth controlledby means of an arm 169 pivoted onthe shaft 165, and. adjustably positioned by beingclamped by suitable means-'to a fixed arm 170. i The arm- 169 carries an angular'fiange 171 interposed between the pawl and the teeth of the ratchet wheel.

By shifting the position of the arm 169 and its flange, the pawljs permitted to operative lv engage only one or two or more teeth of the ratchet wheel as may be de- 95 of teeth moved forwardwitl 1-..eac h reci rocation of the pawl determinesthe s of revolution'of the cam member, and'a so that the speed of the latter be further varied by changing the-relative diameters of the gear and pinion l62gand 164. By this means itis. possible to gvrovide for the raising periodically of an, desired recurring numbered napkin. i, a

- To prevent the continued operation of the counting, device ,incase; f a. break in the paper stock passing into be cutting mech-z anism I have provltlecl ja device illustrated in detail in Figs. 7 and 8 and positioned between the' roller 43 and the cutting roll 44. A plate 172, having upstanding lateral sides, is adapted to receive the paing paper-on its body portion and guide the paper between the s ide portions. The plate serves the double purpose of accuratelbgniding the material in proper position {hrthe periphe13' ot the cuttingroll and allsofor re-. leasingv thlitjiiiiit-in echa'nisni; Tn 'Icase of; abreak. f1fhejrp1ate iis zhingedatohe end 1 upon a, pin '173-carried in an angle bracket-g 120 174 adjustably supported upon the top por-; tion 'of the frame members 1 and 2. A

sprinkg 175 is coiled about the pin 173 and;

.has a portion engaging the underside of the plate which is so tensioned as to force 125 the plate upward. The tension is gauged so that the plate is held down in. approximate ly horizontal position by the paper material passing over it, but in case of a break the spring urges the plate upward on its hinge and carries with it a connecting wire 176 attachedto the free end of the plate. The wire runs down to the counting mechanism, having'its other end secured to a pivoted element 177 engaging the under side of the ratchet operating pawl 167, and normally resting upon the flange 17 1. \Vith the upward movement of the plate 172 the '0 rating pawl is lifted and held free'of the ratchet wheel 166 thus failing to actuate the latter'upon the continued reciprocation of the the cooperating endless belts 120 and 130 to meive' the napkins assing therethrough.

:The conduit 93" is joined in with the conduit 93 the air' being-exhausted therefrom by the blo er 94 and..serving to draw the napkins in ition to beagain transversely folded by the blade 96-operating simi-' larly to the blade 96 and actuated by a crank. 98!. A cam member-106 mountedjn fixed concentric relation with the drum 113- controls the rocker arm 104* which in turn :actuates the crank .98.

- is driven '113.- V 'After passing through the second transverse folding mechanism the'napkins are The drum 113' carrying the two endless belts-120' and130 bybelt co'nnec'tions with the drum dropped into the chute 132 and stacked in the receptacle 133 in the manner previously described, the stacking and counting mechanism being actuated by'the driving rod 135 and the cam mechanism assembled about a shaft 78 similar in all respects to that pre- 4 vious'ly described. The'shaft 78 is driven from the main drive shaft 78'by means of suitable belt connections. To accommodate the additional folding mechanism the frame members 1 and 2 may be constructed with downward extensions '1. giving .suflicient depth to the framework to suitably support the-operating parts above theba( of the machine.

. It is to be understood that, if desired,

. the napkins instead of being partially'se'vered may be completely severed as they pass between the rolls 44'and 45. In either event,

I pre ferably provide means in the conduit 93 adapted to support the na kins in proper position for engagement by t e blade 96, this means serving in the one case merely as a safeguard in the event of accidental severance. In the present instance such means islsshown (Fig. 5) in the form of a screen While I have illustrated and described in detail a preferred embodiment of my invention, it should be clearly understood that the disclosure is merely for the urposes of illustration and that many modi cations-and variations will naturally occur to those skilled inv the art. I aim in the subjoined' claims to cover all such legitimate varia} tions and modifications.

I claim as my invention I V 1. A machine of the class described com-. prising, in combination, means for longitudinally folding a continuous web, means for cutting the longitudinally folded web to divide. it at regularly spaced intervals, means for imparting a transverse fold in the web substantially centrally of the divisions formed therein by said cutting means,

and pneumatic means tending to move the web into osition with respect to said trans-- verse fol ing means. 2. A machine of .the character described comprising, in combination, means for imparting a longitudinal fold to a web, cut-,'

ting means for partially severing the folded web into sections of regular length, means for transversely folding and separating.

said sections, and pneumatic meanstendin to present said sections successively to -sa i transverse folding means;

3. Ina machine of the class described, a pluralit of folding devices 'efiecting successive ongitudinal folds in a passing sheet, interchangeable airs of cutting rolls adapted to out sa d sheets into sections'of variable length, andmeans for eii'ecting successive transverse folds in said sections.

4. In a machine of the class described,

means forlongitudinally folding a running sheet of aper, means for cutting said sheet into regu ar sections,'means for transversely folding said sections, mechanism 'for stack-' mg and counting said sections, and a device I for rendering said counting mechanism iii-- operativeupon the disruption of said running sheet.

. @1110 5. In a machine of the characterf-de-l scribed, means adapted to fold longitudi-Y 5 nally a running sheet of paper, cutting means' adapted partially to sever said folded s ee't .into sections, a conduit adapted to rece ve said folded and partially severed sheet,

means for transversely folding and com-'.

pletely separating the sheet including a member reciprocable transversely of the conduit, said conduit having apertures in opposite sides thereof to receive said reciprocating member, means adapted to grip the sections of the sheet when thrust latera ly by said reciprocating member from sa fkd conduit, and means for' creating a partil vacuum in the conduit nnereby to tend to.

move the folded sheet to present said 5420- tions successively to said transverse folding means. 6. In a machine of the class described,

-meansforlongitudinallyv'folding a running. 'f'sh'ee'tffof paper, cutting means adapted to -'partia'll'y;.severwthe-folded sheet into sec- ,"tions, means for completely severing and transversely folding said sections, a conduit -havi ng an open end positioned to receive said folded sheet from said cutting means,

means for creating an air current, through saidconduit entering said open end to guide said sheet thereinto, and a reciprocating blade arranged to thrust said sections-laterally from said conduit into engagement with said transverse folding means.

7. In'a. machine of the character described, the combination of means for partially severing a sheet to d-ivide it into sections,.and-means for transversel folding said sections and also separating t em from adjacent sections, said meansincluding a reciprocat'ory member, and means for grippin g'a bight of the sheet' formed by said reciprocatorymember.

' 8. In a machine of r v series of devices. for successively efl'ectin longitudinal folds in a running sheet an mechanism adapted to sever said folded sheet into regular sections, said mechanism com rising a cutting roll having' a station- 'tioned in the periphery of said roll, a second roll having a swinging bearingsup ort, resilient means tendin to sw'in' .sai second -roll toward said cutting roll, t e peripheries of said-rolls being in juxtaposition to re-' ceive said folded sheetthe'rebetween whereby said sheet is cut into regular sections and --interconnec ted driving means for said rolls.

9. In a machine of the classdescribed, a.- .P Y adaptc t folded running sheet, laterally slidable ad- 'ustable bearings for one, roll' of sa'id pairs,-

or interchangeable. airs of rolls 0 transversely cut a ongitudinally terally swinging bearing sup orts for the other 'roll of said pairs, and axed conduit adapted to receive the partiall severed sections of said folded sheet 'itioned beneath the line of contact of sai rolls.

10. In a' machine of the class described,

a series of folding deviccsadapted to effect successive longitudinal folds-1n a running sheet, a cutting roll having regularly spaced peripheral knives adapted to partia lysever s'aid folded sheet into sections, abacking roll bcaringa'gainst said cuttingroll and forcing said if lded sheetinto engagement with said kniiies, a pair' 'of ,spaced idler rolls mounted above said cutting roll, both idler rolls being'svvin'gable as a' unitahout an outside point and one also being savingable about the axis of the other anda; belt running on said idler rolls and normally resting upon said folded sheet passing over said gutting roll to prevent slippageof said sheet, upon"'saidcrrtting roll.

r lL lnrn v-fmeehine of the class de c zibed,

receive the said partially severed sections the class; described, a

aring support, knives regularly posh.

sheet, cutting means for longitudinally folding a running sheet, a cutting -roll adapted to partially sever the folded sheet into sections, a conduit extending downtvardly from said roll and receiving said sections and having a lateral aperture with curved flanged edges,

.means for successively thrustin the center portions ofsaid sections through said aper-' ture, anda pair of endless belts having a portion of their-runningsurfaces in contact with" each other, said belts operating. at greater surface speed than the peripheral speed of said cutting roll andiadapted to between their contacting surfaces, thereby completely severing thesuccessive sections, and imparting a transverse foldtherezoa In a machine of theclass described, means for folding a running sheet of paper longitudinally, means for cutting said foldedsheet into sections, a conduit-extending downwardlyfrom'said cuttin means to receive said sections, said'con uit having a lateral aperture. at. a substantial distance from said cutting means, a transverse fold- 0- ing mechanism including a' pair of partially contiguous beltseach running on a setof idler rolls so as to provide a tensioned surface-contact directly alined with said aper ture, and means reciprocating transversely surfaces of said belts meet in tensioned con-' tact and run over the periphery of said dr'rlin in superimposed relation, swingable bearing supports for certain of said idler. rolls, rcsilient means tending to svving sa ltl supports to exert longitudinal tension upon said belts, a conduit receiving said scctiongifrom said cutting means, and meai'is f6} {iiuccessively introducing the center portions ofsaid sections between said endless belts 14. In a inaehme of the class described, means for foldinga runningshcct of paper,

acutting roll receiving said sheet from said folding means and adapted to cut said sheet into sections, a spring pressed hinged plate guiding said running s met to said cutting roll, said plate being arranged to swingrip- I \vardly with the failure or disruption of said sheet running thereover, a device adapted to receive and stack said section s, count; ing mechanism arranged to elevate regu larly recurrent ones of saiti sections when stacked, and a connection between said plate and said countingmechanism whereby the ilai er is rendered inoperativebythe upward wifi'g of said plate. I

155 In a machine of the class described,

s 'la serii-s of folding devices adapted to eflect sueeissive longitudinal folds in a' running siieet of paper, cutting means for-severing said folded sheet into sections; receiving conduit for said severed sect10ns,-andmeans ror-producmg a. partial vacuum in said 10 condu 1t.'. v

said sections, and a conduit having an air current therethrough, said conduit being -arranged to transmit said -sections from said dividing means to said foldm means.

In testimony whereof, I

set my hand. 7

' i PETER D. PAULS.

iiave hereunto 

